Well, my son and I went a wee bit crazy at the greenhouse today.

[knitter4democracy]

We're putting in square foot planters this year (two are already up and running, two have yet to get all set for planting). I also have a spot in the middle of the deck that I turned into a garden when we first moved in three years ago and a spot that was the kids' garden last year that the strawberries took over with a vengeance that we're letting have.

I had already gotten too many tomato plants but somehow ended up with one more (I've heard so many good things of Cherokee Purple, though!), and my son and I went nuts with the herbs. Ever since finding out that you can process them with some olive oil and freeze them in ice cube trays and then pop them out into a bag to use as fresh all year long, I've planned on really expanding how many herbs I grow. So, we got two kinds of lavendar, two kinds of sage, five basil plants, two dill, three rosemary, three parsley (both kinds), two kinds of oregano plus an ornamental one that looks pretty, and a some flowers (my son picked out several pansies for his garden and got some gorgeous ones, so I couldn't resist). Eeep!

I am a tad worried we're putting in too much, but the square foot planters are supposed to be less work overall, though I'll end up watering more, I'm sure. Last year, the kids got to my green beans and peas before I could, so I've more than doubled those, and even though last year was a terrible tomato year in Michigan, I still wouldn't have had enough to can, so I've doubled those, too, in hopes of having enough to can to get us through the year (salsa, canned paste tomatoes, and maybe even sauce, if I can grow enough tomatoes for it).

I've stuck edibles in the plantings the former owners put in (you should've seen my parsley last year--it was huge!), and we replaced the pricker bushes (I forget the name of them) with blueberries and put in an apple tree. I'm starting to wonder if I'm going just a bit crazy with the foodstuffs. I hated gardening as a kid, but planters are so much more fun than the acre garden I remember hoeing and weeding in. I just hope my kids don't have rotten tomato fights from ours like we did my stepmom's (she put in 40 plants the first year!).

[crispini]

1. Fellow herb junkie here.

Oh, you can do SO much with herbs. Herb vinegars. Herbs infused vodka. Tinctures. Herb oil. I am already putting stuff up in jars. I've been buying bags of jars at estate and garage sales and I'm having SO MUCH fun!

[Shoelace]

2. me three, I heart herbs!

I planted Basil seeds and now have about a dozen healthy plants still in my little greenhouse. Too cold to put out just yet.
Am going to grow lots of Greek Oregano (it seems to be the strongest flavor wise), Tarragon which apparently can't be grown from seed so I have to buy plants, lots of Cilantro, Sage, Thyme, Marjoram, Fennel, Dill, etc.
Rosemary is full fig in the vegie garden but my Italian parsley isn't doing much. It seems to want to bloom so not alot of leaves.

I cut the parsley up and freeze it in plastic containers - works great, keeps it's color too. Most of the other herbs will be dried to add to sauces, etc.
But flavored vinegars for sure.

[hermetic]

3. Parsley query

I've always dried mine. When you freeze yours, do you put it in liquid?

Thanks and happy gardening!